BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF OBESITY: TRANSTHEORETICAL MODEL OF BEHAVIOUR CHANGE

Abstract:

The prevalence of obesity is rapidly rising in Croatia as throughout the world. Although physiological and genetic factors may contribute, the increased trend in the prevalence of overweight has primarily been attributed to lifestyle. One theoretical framework, Prochaska and DiClemente's (1983) transtheoretical model of health-related behavior change, has been successful in changing behaviors associated with obesity. The transtheoretical model involves set of constructs: stages of change, decisional balance, self-efficacy and processes of change. The main objectives of this study were to apply the transtheoretical model to the area of behavior change focused on weight reduction in an overweight and obese population in Croatia; to determine relationship among the key constructs of the TTM and to determine the contribution of the processes of change, decisional balance, self-efficacy, age, and the body mass index (BMI) to the stages of change: precontemplation, contemplation, action and maintenance. Two hundred and ninety four participants took part in the study, average age 50.64 years (+13.31) and average BMI 33.44 (+ 4.20). Results were as following: almost all correlation coefficients among stages of change, decisional balance, self-efficacy and processes of change are significant. Pros for behavior change is significant predictor for all stages of change and cons for precontemplation, contemplation and action, but not for maintenance stage. It is suggested that in the precontemplation stage, individuals will find more cons of the problem behavior then pros. In the action and maintenance stages, the opposite pattern will occur. Our results support partly this assumption. According to our data, experiential and behavioral processes of change were important both for earlier and latter stages of change. Self-efficacy was significant predictor only for action stage and not for maintenance stage as one could expect. Findings of the present study provide preliminary evidence of the validity of applying TTM to the area of behavior change focused on weight reduction in an overweight and obese population in Croatia. Although our results didn't completely support theory assumptions, the transtheoretical model of behavior change may be appropriate framework for health promotion programs in Croatia

Keywords: obesity, transtheoretical model, biopsychosocial approach, Croatia